CliffB Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Hi everyone. This will be my entry for the GB. This Tasman Models boxing was produced in the early 1990's and comprises the well-known Heller kit, with some upgraded replacement parts, walk-round photographs and bespoke decal options. Here are the Heller parts. And here are the extras that I'll be using. The Falcon vac-formed canopy came with the kit, but the photoetch sheet and decals for YU-SAS are aftermarket. See you all later! Cliff 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAG058 Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Welcome Cliff! I had been waiting for a Dragon Rapide so I'm very glad you've ebetered yours. It looks like a great kit, a some nice extras too. Good luck with your build! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Good one! Very nearly went with a Rapide for this GB - the first aircraft I ever flew in - age 7or 8, 1959 or '60, 'ten bob flip' from Prestwick Airport, my friend 'Scimitar' managed to track down a colour pic of the actual aircraft for me to replicate. I'll be watching your build closely for details and corrections! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandboof Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Looking forward to seeing what you do with this Martin H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Nice choice Cliff. Foolishly I missed the chance to purchase of of these kits while they were around so will be watching your progress with not only the usual interest I pay to your projects but also a small measure of envy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg in OK Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 This kit was on my short list but I decided on a different build but I will be watching with great interest. Greg in OK 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 A belated 'thank you guys' for the welcome . Unusually for me, I kept the receipt for this kit. I bought it on 25.1.94 for the pricely sum of £14.99 (which seemed a lot at the time). I bought it from the old Hannants shop at Colindale. I was doing some contract work at the national Newspaper Library (which was more or less directly opposite), so happy days! Over this weekend I've been able to make a start, concentrating on the interior. The cabin interior and passenger seat colours are pure imagination, but no matter as not much can be seen through the kit's 'bottle glass' side window transparencies. I'm hoping that the vac-formed cockit glazing will be better, as the PE additions look OK.... Cheers Cliff 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 That's a great start Cliff, it looks fantastic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Watching your progress reminds me I've that same photo-etch set in the kit box so glad to see it makes a good difference to the kit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted March 4, 2017 Author Share Posted March 4, 2017 Thanks John and Col . Some more progress to report, with the fuselage and wings assembled, plus a few tweaks as recommended in the Tasman instructions. I did have one disaster, which was born of Heller's decision to provide the kit pre-drilled for rigging wires. Unfortunately, their holes are massive so I decided to fill them with superglue gel and then re-drill. Even more unfortunately, I tried to speed thing up by spraying the model with CA accelerator. This promptly turned the side windows a lovely shade of milky white . I've never had this problem before, but this was a different brand of zapper. Luckily, I do have a spare set of cabin windows in my spares box, so all is not lost. This photo shows the most significant 'enhancements'. In no particular order: raised ribbing removed from sides of engine nacelles and panel lines re-scribed fuel caps added to engine nacelles luggage door added by scribing (plus highly detailed handle ). As you can see, the PE window frames have also been added. The full effect will be lost slightly on my silver machine, but they would look particularly nice left 'au natural' against a colourful fuselage. Cheers Cliff 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandboof Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 Beautiful work Cliff Martin H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 Lovely work Cliff, those etch frames look really good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted March 5, 2017 Author Share Posted March 5, 2017 Thanks guys! Here are today's photos..... 1) Ready for primer 2) First coat on Things of note are: I went with the kit's injection moulded canopy, as it seemed to be just as clear as the Falcon vac-form but much easier to work with and mask. I added a generator (vanes to follow) and a venturi - both cobbled together from bits in my spares box. I sanded off the kit's representation of the wing walkway (which is much too large), and replaced it with a new one cut from plasticard. A little tidying up needed before the final primer coat, but nothing too bad. Thanks for looking. Cliff 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 It's coming along nicely Cliff, it will be a fantastic looking model in the end. There are some super builds happening in this GB and I'm already having difficulty picking a favourite. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEMPESTMK5 Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Good morning Cliff Very nice work so far Patrice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Liking it! I've got a tasman version of the DH89 but with different markings, mainly military and all the extras that come with the kit. Where did the etch set come from? This is inspiring me for my next DH.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 Thank you all for your kind comments 1 hour ago, Paul J said: Where did the etch set come from? Paul, I got the etch from Hannants (still showing in stock at £4.99). Cheers Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Missed the start of this one Cliff but here now, with interest - like some others I have this in the stash 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 10 hours ago, CliffB said: Thank you all for your kind comments Paul, I got the etch from Hannants (still showing in stock at £4.99). Cheers Cliff Hi Cliff, Thanks for the heads up. Order placed.(Together with something else) Now will have to decide whether to break open my hoarded Tasman kit or the Airfix issue. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisk Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Great to see how it all comes together. The interior looks great and the PE window frames are a nice enhancement to the kit. Cheers, Peter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 Thanks guys, there certainly do seem to be quite a few Tasman versions lurking out there in BM stashes For me, 'the best laid plans' and all that! By now I was expecting the Rapide to be fully painted, but unfortunately I experienced a persistent visible fault in the top fuselage joint that I just could not get rid of . I've never had this problem before (although I know others have), and it is extremely annoying! The fit of the two kit parts was not good and I did end doing quite a lot of sanding, so I can only assume that the joint was thinned so much that it has a hair-line crack that allows a little movement. I've tried re-gluing, but to no effect. I decided that there was no alternative but to overskin the top deck using 10 thou. I fact, a surprisingly quick and easy task on the Rapide. I should have done it sooner! Cheers Cliff 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Nice save Cliff She's looking very smart. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 I believe you have done the right thing re the reskinning of the upper fuselage. It really should have subtle longerons showing through fabric if you now what I mean. A bit like fabric covered wings. A long while back I saw somewhere how someone had done this very well. The whole of the top fuselage from cockpit to fin ought to be like this. Of course one can model this to how they see fit. When I get to start mine, I'll have a look at seeing how to go about it. Wouldn't it lovely if Airfix made a brand new tool of it to go with their lovely Tiger Moth..... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted March 11, 2017 Author Share Posted March 11, 2017 Thank you Ced and Paul. It looks like I missed an opportunity when I re-skinned (re-skun?) the upper fuselage . On a brighter note (literally), the plane is now silver. Half way through, my usual Games Workshop Mithril Silver ran out, so the final coat was Tamiya Flat Aluminium. The Mithril is slightly darker, which I personally prefer, but the Tamiya is OK. Decals and satin coat up next . Cliff 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 Looking good Cliff, very nice finish. Um, is there a wing missing? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now